I have some idea's but am looking for some thoughts.

How small of a structure can I build and have an actual stair case to a loft or second story.

Moreover have a open ceiling in the front third or half and the loft or second story on the back half.

Are you looking for practical or legal advice (as to what is required for a building permit)?

From a practical point of view, I'd say a cube 20' on a side might work.

flashguy

That's a bit confusing to me. how small in what way. If you want stairs the two nominal code issues that I think will drive the design are the 36" wide and 6'8" height above. I don't think there are any other clearance requirements, but I'm not an design guy. So put the stairs on one wall and come over 3 feet and the rest is up to you in footprint. But it would be an odd situation in most jurisdictions that the code didn't require a whole bunch more, but without some idea of the baseline code its hard to say much more.

I have no idea, but I just learned of a website, just do internet search for "sketch up" and you can do a lot for free.

I was just watching a guy working on converting a cargo trailer to some sort of home made RV and he was using sketch up to see how things would lay out and work out before picking up any tools.

You might poke around with it and see if you can draw something out.

Good luck to you.

Really no legal or code advice needed. I was thinking 20'x?.
Front door in the middle, Staircase on one wall. A woodstove in the other corner.

Once at the the top of the stairs would have a landing. With a wall behind it with a door and a 10x20 room. Or something there about.

I wonder about a 16x? building with the entry door on the side with the stove and the staircase on the other wall. With a 16x10 room upstairs?

Cool fort. How do we join the club?

I've been out of it for a while, but I seem to remember 7" rise and 11" run for stairs. Then you'll need at least 3' for a landing at each end. Your ceiling height will determine the overall length of the stairs.

Can you do a spiral staircase?
I would think that could keep your footprint small.

My wife’s studio is 20’x35’. It is a good size room with a loft covering half the space (about 20x17). Steps go against an end wall. In our case the room is still one story with the roof pitch (6/12) defining the space in the loft.

I think our code required something like 7’ minimum height to be classified as “living space” so ours is not and it is considered storage. It is high enough to stand in the middle (under the ridge). I am sure with a mattress kids would love it as a sleeping loft.

The other end of the room is clear to the rafters and that is where the wood stove is located. Her space, as noted, is a studio but it could easily become an in-laws apartment, a game room, den, etc. In our case we like covered porches, so the entire studio is surrounded with covered porch.

Your structure could be a little taller and have dormers for windows. It could, if desired, still look like one story.

Thank you guys. That is helpful. After some additional thought 16x30' would work but be small for sure. The extra room upstairs would make it doable.
A 20x30' thirty foot print would be more a desirable size for sure. Making it a true two story would allow to expend it by eventually adding 12x30' extensions. At least on one side.

Thinking outside "the box..." Seems like you could minimize the footprint, and volume with a cylindrical or octagonal design with the staircase carried against the outside wall (like a lighthouse).

quote:

Originally posted by architect:
Thinking outside "the box..." Seems like you could minimize the footprint, and volume with a cylindrical or octagonal design with the staircase carried against the outside wall (like a lighthouse).

Ah, sorry Arch. That ain't happening

ORG, A few thoughts on your structure. Assuming a 7-1/2" Rise and an 11" run, If you have an 96" ceiling and 10" Floor thickness; you'll need a footprint of roughly 3' x 18' for a staircase. This assumes a landing of 36" x 36" at the top and bottom. So a 20' x 30' structure should work.

I'd make it 20 x 32 though, no sense in cutting the 4x8 sheets of plywood.

Ken

Code varies by state. In VA the steepest staircase has an 8 1/4” rise with a 9” run.

Having said that it will feel steep. Our experience is that we try to get a 7” rise with an 11” step. This will feel “natural”.

Having said that if you have a 10 foot total height difference (120 inches) will result in about 17 steps or 187”.

Just make sure you have adequate headroom (6’-8”) along the whole staircase.